Even if you’ve never watched Anyone but You, you’ve probably heard the song “Unwritten” all over your TikTok For You Page, especially the snippets “Feel the rain on your skin / no one else can feel it for you,” aka the serenity song. During Christmas break, I did about four things: sleep, eat, hang out with friends and family, and watch Anyone but You. I only went three times (or six, but who’s really counting), and every time, it was like a brand-new movie. I absolutely adored Anyone but You, but when I’ve talked to other people about it, they’ve either loved it or absolutely hated it. So, let’s sit down and look at the highs and the lows and review this movie.
There are spoilers ahead, so turn back now if you haven’t seen this movie and want to avoid spoilers.
First, let’s talk about the most questioned part of the movie. What is up with the chemistry between Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell? Because wow! They have fantastic chemistry in every scene and off the runway, but according to several official interviews with the two, they are not dating. Sydney Sweeny told People magazine, “We sold a rom-com. We were filming a fun, amazing movie.” Sweeney is still engaged to her partner, while Powell (who broke up with his girlfriend during production) remains single – ladies rejoice!
Next, the plot itself. Yes, there were way too many lines of cheesy dialogue and predictable plot points, but the movie felt like a return to the rom-coms of the early 2000s (which was the BEST era of rom-coms, and I will die on this hill). For once, we simply had two people who refused to get together simply because of miscommunication. It felt like a return to 10 Things I Hate About You or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I love an uncomplicated romance plot, and Anyone but You did this in the best way. I mean, a guy ditching his best friend’s wedding to jump in a bay so he would get rescued by a helicopter and flown to the girl he loves in a last-ditch effort to tell her he loves her?!?! Cue the tears.
I was drooling over the cinematography and costumes of this movie. If I don’t have an Australian wedding, I don’t want it. The attention to detail in each shot was impeccable, with the lighting bringing in a classic, nostalgic feel from early 2000s digital cameras. The colors were so vivid that they almost seemed to jump off the screen. At the same time, the costumes kept the movie lighthearted and modern. The backdrop of every scene was stunning, from the first kitchen date to the breathtaking harbor scene where Glen’s character jumps in after Sydney’s character, and they share the MOST adorable hug while being rescued by the helicopter. I found the movie to be a beautiful and enchanting experience. While the plot may have been relatively simple, the stunning visuals and attention to detail made it a joy to watch from start to finish.
Now, no proper movie review would be complete without addressing some of the flaws. As I was scrolling through Reddit to figure out what was wrong with this movie, the same few words came up again and again. “Boring,” “generic,” “bad script,” “cringy.” As a reviewer, I feel obligated to address these as wrong. This movie knows it’s a lighthearted rom-com, and it makes fun of itself in the best way for it. This movie will not be winning any Academy Awards (and it shouldn’t). Did this movie change my perspective on anything? No, unless you count giving me a new song that makes me feel like a main character. Did I leave the movie theater sobbing my eyes out? No. However, I believe that some movies are purely there for entertainment. Anyone but You is a feel-good movie; that is all it needs to be.
So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put on “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield and attempt to make the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever while daydreaming about falling into the Sydney Harbor.